ok this what I have now please let me know what you think thanks so much Congress implemented the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which enables individuals to have more control over their own health information. This helped to establish clear lines on the giving out of and using of specific health records of individuals (CDCP, 2003).
Individuals in relation to this Act have the right to access their records from authorized keepers and users of an individuals' health information called covered entities. They can have an accounting of the disclosures of their protected health information by these covered entities, their business associates. Individuals have the right to receive written notice from the covered entities their privacy practices, an opportunity to request amendments of the records and an option to limit the use or disclosure of their information. However, the covered entity is not obliged to agree to restrictive requests. But if it does, their compliance is what the client restricts them to do except in cases of emergency (OCR, 2003). They also have the chance to request alternative methods of communicating information (TWC, 2004). They can deviate from the usual method of access if they think that there would be risks involved, without being required to prove it (OCR, 2003).
Consent is one thing that is very essential in this Act; it is actually the thing that prevents mal-users from abusing a person's information. But even with this, there are instances when specific people can access it without consent from the person. First are the law enforcers. They can have the information from the covered entities without waiting for consent if they have their purposes as required by the law. Funeral directors and medical examiners, as authorized by the law can have it for autopsy and other related functions. "The information may also be used to facilitate the donation and transplant of organs, eyes, and tissue" (OCR, 2003). If the information is needed for a valid research program and for prevention of serious and impending threat to a person or the general public, then that could be accessed without consent as well. Nor is consent necessary when it is for certain essential government functions like pursuing effective military missions, carrying out of intelligence and activities deemed important for national security like protecting the president and the citizens, and the establishment of the eligibility to be part of certain government benefit programs and other related activities. The various workers' compensation laws and other similar provisions may also be a factor to persuade the covered entities to discharge the information even without authorization of the party involved (OCR, 2003).
Covered entities carry out their responsibility of safe keeper in a series of ways. "They must implement written protected health information (PHI) privacy procedures, appoint a privacy office, explain to business associates the obligation to sign agreements while respecting the confidentiality of PHI and how it should be kept that way" (TWC, 2004). Their entire workforce is trained to follow their privacy guidelines. All people under the direct control of the covered entities so called workforce, regardless of whether they are receiving compensation not ,therefore, in order to keep the Act well in place and ensure privacy of certain information, they are all to be trained on every detail of the covered entities' privacy policies and procedures. They are all to pursue their tasks in accordance with guidelines. Violations to these policies and procedures by the said workforce have respective sanctions and punishments as determined by the covered entities (TWC, 2004).
HIPAA is set up to keep the private health information in good hands. That is manifested in all the formal structure and regulations set up to govern this information (CDCP, 2003).
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2003). HIPAA Privacy Rule and Public Health. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report Vo. 52 pp. 1-12
HPPA Privacy Rule: What Employers Need to Know. Retrieved May 12, 2007 from (web -site here) Office for Civil Rights (2003). Summary of the HIPAA Privacy Rule. US Department of Health and Human Services pp. 1-19
Based on the text you provided, it seems that you have outlined the main points about the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and its implications for individuals' control over their health information. Here's a breakdown of the key points:
1. HIPAA was implemented by Congress to give individuals more control over their health information.
2. The act establishes clear rules for the disclosure and use of health records by covered entities.
3. Covered entities are authorized keepers and users of individuals' health information.
4. Individuals have the right to access their health records from these covered entities.
5. Covered entities must provide individuals with written notice about their privacy practices.
6. Individuals have the right to request amendments to their records and limit the use or disclosure of their information.
7. Covered entities are not obliged to agree to restrictive requests, except in emergencies.
8. Individuals can request alternative methods of communication for their health information.
9. Consent is essential to prevent misuse of a person's information, but there are exceptions.
10. Law enforcement, funeral directors, medical examiners, valid research programs, and prevention of serious threats can access information without consent.
11. Covered entities must implement written privacy procedures and appoint a privacy office.
12. All workforce members of covered entities must be trained on privacy guidelines and follow the procedures.
13. Violations of privacy policies and procedures have consequences specified by covered entities.
14. HIPAA is designed to keep private health information secure through formal structures and regulations.
Please note that the references at the end of your text are not included in this breakdown. It is always important to properly cite your sources when using information from external references.
Your paragraph provides a good overview of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and its impact on the control and protection of individuals' health information. It explains that HIPAA enables individuals to access their health records from authorized entities, receive written notice from covered entities about their privacy practices, request amendments to their records, and limit the use or disclosure of their information. It also mentions that consent plays a crucial role in preventing misuse, but there are instances when specific people can access health information without consent, such as law enforcement, medical examiners, and for valid research purposes or public safety. The paragraph also highlights the responsibilities of covered entities in safeguarding health information and the importance of training their workforce in privacy guidelines.
To improve your paragraph, you could consider adding more specific examples or statistics to support your statements, such as the number of covered entities or the impact HIPAA has had on data breaches or patient privacy. Additionally, you could further explain the significance of HIPAA in ensuring the confidentiality of personal health information and how it has helped to establish clear lines of responsibility and accountability in the healthcare industry. Lastly, you might want to include a conclusion that summarizes the main points or benefits of HIPAA.
Overall, your paragraph provides a good foundation for understanding the key aspects of HIPAA and its implications for individuals' control over their health information.